Newsletter

Bioactive compounds against chili anthracnose disease

Colletotrichum gloeosporioidesC. capsici and C. acutatum are the major anthracnose disease pathogens that cause extensive damage to chili crops in Thailand. Currently, chemical fungicides are the only available means to control this disease. However, the effects on human health and the accumulation of these chemicals in the environment are of serious concern. Therefore, the use of biocontrol organisms and biologically derived compounds for disease control is a preferred alternative.

In search for biologically derived anti-anthracnose substances, the research team from Bioassay Laboratory developed an efficient screening assay based on the inhibition of spore germination using fluorescence detection techniques. With these techniques, the group has identified fungal and actinomycete strains that produce activities against anthracnose pathogens and collaborated with natural product chemists from Bioresources Research Laboratory to isolate bioactive compounds from these strains.

The outcome of this research not only demonstrates the value of microorganism as a source of biologically-active substances, but could also lead to the discovery of candidates for the development of anthracnose control product in the future.